I’m a current 8th grader, set to take all honors (Algebra 2, Physics, Global Studies and English I). In May 2016 I got accepted to my first choice high school, turned in the a paperwork to realize that I’ll be set to take regular Alg. 1 and 9th grade Literature. I am not sure about the rest of the classes, and ill find out during bridge week. I talked to a student from the school and she will take all honors, which is what I do not get. The school is IB magnet, and they’re 99% proficient in Math and ELA. They’re nationally recognized (#25 in the state). I do not know what high school to attend. My current school isnt that good nor recognized (#375 in the state). The secretary at the school I was accepted into told me that if I attend I’ll be able to take more advanced classes in the future. Keep in mind this school sends students to little ivies and practically Ivy Leagues every once in a while. Should I give up ALL my honors classes (and potential place as valedictorian) at my so-called “ghetto” school, to attend a rather prestigious, competitive high school, where I’ll start small and have to make my way up? Does your High School affect what college you’re getting into?
This is like the third thread that you have made on this topic. Colleges judge you based on the context of your school, so just choose the one that will offer you the better education and extracurriculars.
No. Private or Public? Prestigious or Ghetto? You just have to make the most of what you have in that high school. In the prestigious high school, the pace may be a lot different, students may have stronger capabilities, and in some scenarios, due to academic competitiveness, it can difficult because everyone has the same goal to be the best. At the “ghetto” school, you may stand out, and I would take charge of everything that school has to offer me, strip it down to the bone to find all AP classes offered, ECs, and to make great relationships with your teachers! I wish you good luck! Colleges like to see your performance in high school, they dont care if it is public or private. Dont stress, enjoy high school, hope this helps
@IrrationalPepsi on high school life? I mean, this is the only topic I can post on since I’m becoming a freshman 
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@wydlife I meant the topic of the high schools that you are conflicted between. I stand corrected, though, because this is only the second thread about this topic that you’ve made.
@IrrationalPepsi Yes, it is. It’s because I’m trying to get the most input out of CC users, the last thread didn’t receive much helpers, so I decided to post again and got two more users that helped. Thanks @IrrationalPepsi and @writer80
Are both schools public? If the better school is private, can your parents afford it?
Assuming both are equally affordable, I would go to the school that offers the most opportunity and where you will be challenged by your teachers and your peers. What is more important, that you might be valedictorian someday or that you get the best possible preparation for college? A higher rank at a lesser school seems like a poor bargain.
Do well in your freshman year and you should get the class rigor that you seek in sophomore year and beyond. Also many colleges and universities recalculate your GPA according to their own criteria so the weighting system of the school you are considering might have less impact than you think.
@wydlife, are you a math person, because I’m not sure any school is worth repeating two levels of math it that is a subject you enjoy. Is there a reason they won’t place you in algebra 2, even if they won’t let you take honors?
@mamaedefamilia Both schools are public, the school I currently attend provides AP classes and is regular. The school I got accepted is an IB magnet school, I do not pay for nothing if I attend
@LNMC82 What the student (a friend who attends there) told me is that the school believes that newcomers have NOT been taught the cirriculum and need to start over. Students who went to the middle school got recommended by their teachers. I cannot give them a transcript because we don’t have those; we have report cards… That’s all…
@LNMC82 I did enjoy learning Honors Algebra 1 this year, and I know the basics, linear equations, expressions, functions (quadratic), sequences, etc.
@wydlife So they won’t take your report card as enough to put you in the right class? Could you have your math teacher from your current school right you a recommendation?
Ask if you can take a placement test or provide a teacher recommendation. If they insist on putting you into algebra 1 again, it seems to me that if a school is so rigid that they would force you to take a class you already took and know, then I don’t think too much of that school. Doesn’t seem like they are interested in supporting your best education as an individual.
As far as school rankings go, I don’t think that matters much. What does matter is whether your local school has a large enough group of academic peers for you and if they offer an appropriate curriculum for you and if the kids who are similar students to you are doing well with it. For instance, you mentioned that they offer AP classes, but how do the students do on the AP exams? If the pass rate on the AP exams is good, then the school is probably fine for you. Of course AP scores aren’t the only measure of quality but unlike looking at school average SAT scores, which in some states could even include the students who aren’t planning to attend college, they do give you some idea of the achievement level of the honors students. There may be plenty of students at the school who aren’t so good but if they aren’t in your academic classes, that doesn’t matter too much. Yet it will pull down the school’s “rankings” a lot. Rankings aren’t nearly as important as you seem to think they are. In most cases, they’re primarily a measure of average family income.
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Closing thread since OP has already started another one on the same topic.